For my first blog post, I visited the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) in Astoria, New York. I have not been to this side of Astoria many times, so to see what it was like was a refreshing experience. I also got to see the museum’s exhibits for the first time. The inside of the building was very modern and, for $11 and my student ID, I would get to see the rest of the building in its modern glory.

I went up to the first floor and I noticed that the theme of this floor was more old fashioned. Old cameras and controls used for filming between the 1930s and the 1950s were on display, and I was amazed at how complex they were. I kept walking and I saw props and wigs used in various films of that time. There were probably over 50 items on display from past films. One item that caught my eye was a script from the 1940s film “This Gun for Hire.” I found this particularly interesting because it showed me what screenplays were like back in the old days and how they relate to modern day screenplays.

       

I then went to the next floor to see what else the museum had to offer. On the second floor, I saw a section that said something along the lines of, “Getting the Produced Image Out There,” and I saw a bunch of televisions. At the beginning of the section, there were old televisions with thick glass and big backs. I noticed that, as I kept walking, the televisions became more modern and updated. These appeared to be televisions from around the 1950s and 1960s. It’s amazing how far technology has progressed. From thick and small TVs to modern day high definition flat-screens, society has truly been impacted by these developments.

Eventually, I was led to the section that involved modern day televisions and even modern day editing techniques. One exhibit that caught my interest the most at the MOMI because of its relevance and practicality was “Editing Live Television.” This was a small section that showed teamwork between the camera crew and the person in charge of the overall cameras. The person in charge would call out which camera would be displayed on the main program (what we are seeing on our TVs). This meant that the person operating the camera would have to readjust and focus the camera based on what was happening in the game. For example, if a player was at bat, the person in charge of the cameras would say, “Ready 4.” Camera 4 would then readjust itself and focus on the pitcher and the person at bat. The person in charge would then say, “Take 4,” and the program would show camera 4’s perspective. This exhibit was a real eye opener because it showed what goes on behind the scenes and how complex editing live television truly is.

The final section of my visit to the museum involved more modern day cameras. This included cameras from the 1980s to the present. There was also brief video on how TV transmitters worked around the 1950s, and how televisions picked up the signal. Another display that caught my attention showed the components of a color camera. This was fascinating to me because it seemed so complex. This also created a contrast with some of the old fashioned cameras on display near it. This exhibit showed how advanced our technology has gotten in terms of cameras and displaying color television.

Overall, this trip to the museum showed me what past television and film making was like, and what modern day television and editing is composed of. The exhibits showed society’s advancements in the film production field and how it will continue to progress. It also helped me think about the more technical and “behind the scenes” side of television programs.